Animal-trap.



No. 848,866. PATENTEDAPR.v 2, 1907.

AE; STURGILL. ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLIUATION FILED DBC-17.1906.

PATENT FFCE.

ELBERT STURGILL, OF EOLIA, KENTUCKY.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed December 17,1906. Serial No. 348,226.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBERT STURGILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eolia, in the county of Letelier, IState of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Animal-Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to animal-traps generally, and more particularly to such traps as are adapted to catch rats, squirrels, and similar animals.

lt is the object of the invention to provide a simply-constructed and readily-operated trap that may be set opposite the hole or in the path of the animal, so that in its going it will tread upon a trip-leverthat will operate a wire loop having peculiar supp orting means and novel actuating devices and catch and hold the animal by said loop.

The nature of the invention is clearly portrayed in the annexed drawings, formingga part of this speciiication, in view of which'it will iirst be described with respect to its construction and mode of operation and then be pointed out in the claim hereto subjoined.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation.

Similar numerals of reference designate similar parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

In the drawings, 10 designates the basebar, which has an upright extension 11 at one end formed integrally with the bar, and the said bar has a lateral extension 12, broadening the bar where it occurs. l

13 is an upright firmly secured at its lower end in the bar 10, and 14 is a somewhat similar upright, but free at its lower end to be moved along on the upper face of the basebar 10. A rod 15 is secured at one end in the upright or extension 11, passes loosely through a hole formed in the upright 14, and is secured at its other end to the stationary upright 13.

16 designates a length of wire having the portions a short distance from its center bent at right angles to its central portion, the said bent portions extending parallel with each other and forming arms 17, which extend from the outside of the stationary standard 13, loosely through holes in the same, and

have their terminals secured in the movable standard 14. Under these conditions it will be seen that when the movable standard 14 is brought toward the iixed standard 13 a rectangular opening 18 will be formed by the l wire 16 and its arms 17 outside of the standard 13, the latter forming one side of said opening. lt will also be noted that the movable standard 14 may be moved along on the bar 10 and rod 15 from near the stationary standard to the upright end 11 and back again, and when it moves outward it will carry the ends of the arms 17, connected therewith, outwardly with it, closing the angular opening 1S, with the central portion of the wire 16 against the standard 13.

An expansible spring 19 is arranged between the two uprights 13 and 14, which operates with a tendency to move the standard 14 outward against the upright end 11 and close the loop 18.

On the broadened part 12 of the base are two pairs of vertically-disposed ears 19 and 20, in the former of which is pivoted a latch' or trip lever 21, which extends at its free end outward opposite the opening 18, where it is broadened and has a iiat upper side. The said lever has a notch formed in its upper side a little outward from its pivotal point, which 'notch is adapted to be engaged by one arm 22 oi' an angular dog pivoted between the ears 20, the other arm 23 extending up at right angles to the iirst-mentioned arm and in position to be engaged by a laterally-projecting lug 24 on the movable upright 14.

Supposing now that the parts are in their indicated position and, as shown in Fig. 1, the trap will be in set position and may be placed outside of the hole orwith the open loop 18-where the animal will be likely to attempt to pass through it, upon which eiiort it will step on the latch-lever 21, releasing the arm 22 of the dog and allowing the spring 19 to move the upright 14 back, carrying the arms 17 of the wire 16 with it and closing the loop-opening 18 upon the animal, holding it caught in said loop against the stationary upright 13.

lVhen the animal is released, the trap may be reset in an obvious way.

W'h at is claimed is- An animal-trap comprising a base, a stationary standard thereon, a standard movable at its lower end along the base, a rod supported by the stationary standard and base for supporting and guiding the movable IOO upright, an angular loop of wire outside of the stationary standard and having its arms extended through the same and connected with the movable standard an extensible spring between the two standards, a triplever or latch pivoted on the base and having its free end extending in a plane coincident with the base of the loop, a dog adapted to engage the said latohdever and the movable Io upright to hold the trap in set position, and

when disengaged from the lateh-lever to free the movable upright7 allowing the trap to be l sprung. In testimony whereof I aIix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELBERT STURGILL.

/Vitnesses E. P. BoGGs, J. W. STURGILL. 

